“…So where should we go?”
“Don’t worry, Visilli. We’re going the right way.”
Sion followed Professor Bariyes.
They were supposed to show a demonstration in front of the professors, but Bariyes still couldn’t find the way.
His footsteps were confident, but Sion didn’t feel reassured.
“…I feel like we’ve been here before.”
“Oh dear! Is that so? Bahahaha! It’s tough without a guide!”
“…Just tell me the direction. I’ll find it myself.”
“That would be better!”
At this rate, it seemed they wouldn’t even have time to eat lunch before the afternoon class.
So Sion decided to find the way himself.
About five minutes later, Sion arrived at the place with Bariyes…
“Is this the right place?”
“Yes. Let’s go in.”
“…Okay.”
Creeeak—
As they opened the enormous door, they found a tiered classroom filled with people who appeared to be professors.
It wasn’t even the back door; they entered through the front.
As if that wasn’t enough, someone’s presentation was already underway.
‘…Ah.’
Considering the people sitting there were a bit old for students, it seemed they had indeed found the right place.
The issue was that they had entered through the front door instead of the back.
As Sion was taken aback, a young woman who appeared to be an event staff rushed over.
“Excuse me, how did you get here? This is where the physical sports magic academic conference judging is taking place. External visitors, please leave.”
“Uh… I’m sorry.”
It seemed they had come to the wrong place.
Sion immediately bowed his head and tried to turn back the way they came.
However, Bariyes firmly grabbed Sion’s shoulder.
“You’ve come properly. Go inside, Sion-kun.”
“…?”
Physical sports? Magic academic conference judging?
Sion turned to Bariyes in surprise at the unfamiliar terms.
Regardless of Sion’s reaction, he still had that smiling face.
“There should be a name on the list for Bariyes!”
“Yes, it’s on the list. But, the number has already passed…”
“No, does that mean I should skip class to be here? I rushed over right after class ended, so what am I supposed to do when treated like this?”
“That’s true… But, it’s currently during a presentation, so please lower your voice.”
“Um, sorry about that.”
Bariyes was making things difficult for the staff member.
He was neither a troublesome customer nor someone who suddenly acted like this.
…Well, it was understandable if there was a class, so they couldn’t have made it in time.
“Just go inside for now.”
Step.
An elderly man approached from behind the staff.
It was Noirias, the lead professor of the Magic Department.
“I’ll allow you to present behind the presenter. However, you should be prepared for a penalty for being late.”
“Thank you. Sion-kun, hurry up. Bahahaha!”
“Ah, yes….”
Sion followed Bariyes and took a seat at the very front.
It was good that he was allowed to sit and present, but he needed an explanation about what was in fact happening.
Sion whispered to Bariyes so as not to disturb others.
“Professor, what’s going on? A magic academic conference?”
“Hmm? Didn’t I tell you there was a chance to present in front of the professors?”
“…No, weren’t you supposed to call me for class materials?”
“Just doing both. It’s similar whether it’s an assignment or a presentation in front of professors, isn’t it? Bahahaha!”
“……”
It was highly doubtful how this person’s brain functioned.
Just what kind of thoughts led him to handle matters so carelessly?
If he weren’t a professor, Sion could have easily…
“After this is over, at least treat me to a meal. Hurry up and go.”
“……Huh, I’ll do it.”
“Make sure to show them properly!”
Ignoring Bariyes’ absurd expectations, Sion stood on the podium.
Fewer people were actually looking at Sion.
Most were either doing something else, chatting with each other, or openly using magic on their phones to scroll through the professor’s document.
Sion closed his eyes for a moment and steadied himself.
‘…Alright, let’s give this a shot.’
It was already spilled water.
If he was going to present, he might as well do it properly.
That was his way.
Even in less-than-ideal conditions.
“I will begin my presentation. Esteemed professors, please be quiet.”
Thus, Sion’s presentation began.
*
Many university students think of professors as otherworldly beings.
Other people, other intelligences, beings with different ways of thinking.
However, professors are just people, no different from students.
-I don’t want to teach.
-When will the presentation end?
-What should I eat for lunch today?
-Poop! Hehe.
…They act serious in front of students, pretending to be strict.
But they are as human as anyone, and professors are just students who grew up in the academy.
Professors have emotions, and they are filled with joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
In that sense, the judging of the magic academic conference was a healing time for professors, but at the same time, it was also terribly boring.
The same was true for the middle-aged professor, Brian Jekinson, present here.
‘I’m just seeing the same things over and over again… it’s so boring.’
Brian yawned and forced his mouth shut.
The magic academic conference is something only academy students can participate in.
Professors are tired of seeing presentations from graduate students.
So even if undergraduates are presenting, how high could their level be?
To their eyes, it was no different than watching a kindergarten art exhibition.
‘Should I have stew for lunch, or cutlet… or stir-fried meat? So hard to decide.’
Brian was lost in happy thoughts about what to eat among his soul food choices: stew, cutlet, or stir-fried meat.
He wasn’t even thinking about the judging process.
‘Let’s just get through this quickly and go eat.’
He watched the podium with a detached gaze.
What an astonishing student who was even late to the academic conference.
It was commendable that he didn’t show signs of nervousness under the professors’ piercing gazes, but…
‘Still, he’s just an undergraduate.’
He tilted his head and continued tapping his professor’s document.
Using the magic on the professor’s certificate to scroll through community posts.
Most of the searches were for ‘Brian’, ‘Professor Brian’, and ‘Professor Jekinson’, among others.
…It was what professors usually did: ego-searching.
“I will begin my presentation. Esteemed professors, please be quiet.”
“…?”
Brian’s gaze shifted toward Sion.
An undergraduate student boldly saying “be quiet” to the professors.
However, contrary to the arrogant words, his face was calm.
Perhaps it was because of the unexpected start, the professors’ voices lowered.
“My presentation topic is E-class Skeleton Dungeon.”
With a wave of his hand, the projector screen shifted.
-Research on E-Class ‘Skeleton’ Dungeon: Focused on the ecology and prior studies of skeletons
‘…Skeletons? And an E-class dungeon? What kind of research topic is this?’
Brian’s face contorted in disbelief.
This was not a topic suitable for a magic academic conference.
Generally, students would bring up areas that were not thoroughly researched, not ones where the research was already finished…
They would typically present about interests that had recently started gaining traction or sounded plausible.
Just glancing at the titles of the reports presented that day…
-Zenhound: Reconstruction of Singing Based on the Parkino Method
-Research on Magic Research Ethics ‘NO-ERT’: Centered on the Rights of Experimental Animals
-Using the BIDUF-5.3 Model to Enhance Magic Augmentation Methods
Most were topics that had been repackaged based on the latest hot topics within the magic world.
It was natural that such superficial reports would have flaws.
After the presentations were over, they would be mercilessly criticized during the question time.
Finding some ability to discern value among those full of defects was essential in the magic academic conference.
Certainly, this would be the case…
“The report in question was submitted as Professor Bariyes’ week two assignment for ‘How to Survive in a Dungeon’. The report was drafted after securing an E-class request from the Adventurer Guild with the aim of gathering preliminary information.”
The presenter continued smoothly.
Rather than rigidly reciting the research objectives, he was adding information not included in the report.
Since it was a presentation done as part of a class assignment, background knowledge was required.
Sion maintained eye contact with the audience while continuing the whole presentation.
This was not him reading from a script; it was freestyle.
It was impressive, especially considering the higher-year students had read from scripts a few presentations ago.
‘…A first-year student? Why is a first-year participating in the academic conference?’
Brian couldn’t help but be surprised when he saw “Byzantium Academy Magic Department 1st Year Sion” as the author on the report.
To see a student perform this level of presentation while just being a first-year was incredible.
Considering that the average year of students presenting at the magic academic conference was third or fourth year, it was quite young.
Having only been enrolled for about a month, when could he have possibly written this report?
‘No, it’s not a report… it’s a thesis?’
Moreover, the report he submitted as an assignment was so extensive and of such a high level of knowledge.
The footnotes that appeared in less than five sentences, the easy-to-read sentence structure, and the organic connection between sentences and paragraphs.
It was the quality of a thesis that a bachelor’s degree student would have experienced writing several times.
‘It even seems like there is no research gap… much more thorough than expected.’
An ostensibly rough topic—E-class Skeleton Dungeon, which seemed to have little to research—was elevated to a bachelor’s thesis quality.
Had he read every book related to skeletons in the library? His breadth of knowledge was impressive.
That was entirely the capability of the student presenter.
‘…That student could be a threat.’
Brian Jekinson glanced around with his eyes.
The professors, who had been showing obvious signs of boredom just a moment ago, were now focused on the presentation.
Professors who were otherwise engaging in community searches looking for entertainment now seemed to be intently listening.
“……”
In the classroom right now, aside from the sound of the student’s presentation, there was nothing else.
It was so quiet that even the sound of ants crawling could not be heard.
Without whispers, without the sound of professor certificates being tapped, professors were simply staring blankly, focused on the presentation.
Could it be that professors who had been listening to presentations for over an hour possessed such concentration?
That was the charm of Sion’s presentation that captivated the audience.
‘Even this guy… where have I heard that name before?’
Because he was involved in the community, Brian knew about Sion.
A student surrounded by unfounded rumors.
A student who was jokingly called a rumor mill among professors.
But perhaps the rumors had underestimated his actual capabilities, Brian genuinely thought so.
‘If the professors also… were thinking the same thing as I am.’
The professors who had only seen Sion through rumors were now witnessing the reality.
They were directly observing the brilliance of the gem that was Sion.
If that was the case, only one thought would cross their minds.
‘…I want him.’
At this moment, all the professors had the same thought passing through their minds.
Rather than false rumors, it was clear that the rumors failed to capture the student’s essence.
-Have you not chosen your department yet? Then there’s still an opportunity…
-Did all those rumors have some truth to them?
-…What was the limit for the scholarship we could offer in our department again?
-First-year…? A first-year…? Is he a transfer student or a repeater?
-How can I get that student’s contact information?
